Ecclesiastes 7 - 9

 

Click HERE to read the passage.

Much like the book of Proverbs, Solomon begins chapter 7 with a series of proverbs – which can be defined as short pithy sayings that defines a general truth concerning life, mankind, etc.

 Today’s study begins with a kind of doom and gloom look at life, but in reality is a truth!

 After observing thousands of people (7:28), Solomon has come to the realization that most people never look at life for what it truly is. He sees people working hard, doing all they can to earn a living, trying to make as much money as they can and acquire things in life that they think will bring them happiness. He notices that most people just trudge through life – work, eat, and sleep only to return to the same routine day after day never realizing how to find true happiness in life.

 As such, he then suggests that we spend time at funerals so that we can put life into perspective. How often he reminds us of how short life really is and that if we can think more often about death (something all of us don’t want to do) we might just start to figure out how to find true happiness in life.  Notice what he says in verse 4, “A wise person thinks much about death, while the fool thinks only about having a good time now.” It’s the same reason he says in verse 3, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.”

 Think about it!  Every time I attend a funeral it reminds me of the brevity of life.  Doesn’t it do the same for you? 

 I’ve attended the funerals of school friends who’ve never made it past their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, or even 60’s before death’s icy clutches have snatched them away. Perhaps you’ve felt the same way. It’s on this bit of understanding or perspective that Solomon encourages us to look and evaluate our lives.

 That’s why he encourages us to take the time to enjoy what we have without wallowing in the pit of misery over what we don’t have.  Life’s too short for that!  In fact, in verse 10 he says, “Don’t long for the good old days, for you don’t know whether they were any better than today.”

 As of this writing, the news has been replete of the death of legendary actress Betty White, who died on New Year’s eve at the age of 99. She was called “America’s Sweetheart” enjoying an illustrious career spanning even into her 90’s.  When asked about life in her 90’s and the idea of death being around the corner, she said this, “It’s not a surprise, we knew it was coming — make the most of it.”

 That’s what Solomon is saying – make the most of life!  Death happens, problems happen, financial challenges happen, but our entire focus should be to enjoy what we have NOW and trust God with the rest.

 Listen to what Solomon said in verse 13, “Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you will realize that nothing is certain in life.”

 And here’s a shocker!  Rather than working hard to gain wealth, Solomon recommends a better option – work hard to gain wisdom instead.  Listen to what he says in 7:11 – “Being wise is as good as being rich; in fact, it is better. Wisdom or money can get you almost anything, but it’s important to know that only wisdom can save your life.”

 An example of how wisdom is better than wealth Solomon shares in 9:14—15, “There was a small town with only a few people living in it, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. There was a poor, wise man living there who knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued.”  In the end, money wasn’t the answer, but wisdom saved the people!

 Solomon also calls for balance in life.  In 7:14-18, he shares how important it is to have balance in your life. He uses the two extremes of being good verses being wicked.  At first glance it almost sounds like Solomon is warning his audience not to worry about being too good, which seems kind of odd. But, what he’s really saying is, working hard and fretting over being perfect with goodness can allow you to become to rigid in life.  Instead of enjoying life because of your legalistic lifestyle, you never really learn how to have fun and take in the enjoyments God has provided in life.  At the same token, he stresses how foolish it is to be too wicked – this only leads to judgment before a Holy God.  So, his suggestion in verse 18 is to walk a middle road – or have balance – in life. 

 In chapter 8:1, Solomon gives us a definition of wisdom – to be able to analyze and interpret things.

 In chapter 8, Solomon goes on about the inequities in life, how things aren’t fair.  Here’s a few things he points out:

-          Death can happen at any time. Nothing is for certain in life.

-          Sometimes the wicked live a long life and are buried with honor.

-          Some of those same wicked people frequent the Temple (or church) and fool everybody.

-          The good people are often ill-treated while the wicked are treated with respect.

-          You can never really understand what God is up to in your life and in the world.

-          The same fate (death) comes to everyone – whether you’re Godly or not.

-          The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race.

-          The strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle.

-          The wise are often poor.

-          The skilled aren’t necessarily wealthy.

-          Those who are highly educated aren’t always successful.

 This is why Solomon says in 8:15, “So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people to do in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them.”

Solomon holds nothing back. He tells it like it is.  That’s why the book of Ecclesiastes ought to be read often – perhaps once a month – to keep us in line with understanding that our lives ARE short and that finding happiness is what we all want, but how we find it is as diverse as there are colors in our world. He recommends that finding true happiness in life is in accepting your lot in life, enjoying the work God gives you, enjoying the wife He’s provided you, enjoying the children and grandkids He’s so graciously granted you, and do what you can and all you can (short of sinning) to find THE FUN in this life.